2005 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs
By Taittinger
2005 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs by Taittinger
An enduring paragon of refinement and transparency, the 2005 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs from Taittinger is a tour de force that transcends the confines of varietal character. Plucked from the venerable vineyards of Taittinger in a year proclaimed for its fantastic yield and growing conditions, this exquisite vintage captures an exquisite snapshot of a truly iconic terroir.
The brilliance of 2005 vintage
The story of 2005 in the Champagne region is one of a rollercoaster climate, beginning with a colder-than-average winter, followed by a predictably unpredictable spring. The summer gifted vineyards with perfect conditions and even sunshine hours, culminating in harvest conditions birthed from a winemaker's reverie. The result was a vintage marked by its distinctively finely-tuned balance and layered complexity.
A guided experience through this vintage uncovers delicate citrus nuances flanked by an intriguing mineral undertow, each sip an echo of the chalky Kimmeridgian soils from which these grapes were borne.
An eloquent expression of Champagne's elegance
The 2005 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs from Taittinger fuels the argument for Champagne’s peerless elegance in the world of fine wines. The vintage delivers a wine with notable intensity and delicacy: a symphony of crisp apple, tart pear compote, fresh bread dough and lemon zest, all charged with an exquisitely poised acidity.
All these sensory snippets are wrapped up in an objet d'art - a golden elixir enclosed within a lovingly crafted bottle, becoming an encapsulated testament to the prowess of Taittinger's commitment to excellence.
Champions the notion of investment-worthy finesse
To classify the 2005 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs from Taittinger as merely 'impressive' would be to utterly undersell it. What we have here is truly sublime: A titillating exemplar of championing Chardonnay that continues to evolve beautifully over time. For those investing in fine wines, any cellar without this charismatic chemist is undoubtedly poorer for it.
Market price (GBP)
£1,190.00
12x75cl
Highest score
92
POP score
99.17
Scores and tasting notes
The 2005 Comtes de Champagne has a beautifully composed nose that is extremely cool, mineral and precise and attracts with highly elegant and discreet bright and fresh fruit aromas (white apples, lemons, grapefruits) along with chalk and hazelnut flavors and nougat. Full-bodied, lovely, pure and quite complex on the palate, this is a fresh, buoyant and firmly structured Comtesse with a persistent minerality and an impressive clarity and freshness. It is quite reduced at the moment and lacks, perhaps, complexity but there is a touch of sweetness and a good chance for further development.
Stephan Reinhardt - The Wine Advocate, 29 November 2014